Blue Streak bent front sight-live with it?

[HPP-Mechanic]

I have a 70's Sheridan Blue Streak and the front sight ramp has a slight, but noticeable bend to one side. It must have fallen over at sometime in it life. The gun, overall looks great cosmetically, but it bugs me. I would hate to break it off trying to straighten it, and heating it could ruin the finish...  Live with it or an easy fix?

[Back_Roads]

 They seem to be born with a cant to the left very common if that is what direction it points

[TerryM]

 If the rear sight can be adjusted enough to make up for it, leave it be.

[Van]

  I would be afraid it might snap off.  This was a similar one on a Benjamin 392 that I thought I could tweak just a little to make it straight.  It snapped off the top immediately but left just enough for me to repair by filing a dovetail slot and sizing a front sight insert to fit.  Then sealed it in with JB Weld.  It's actually easier to see now than an original and I could leave the rear sight windage centered.   

[eeler1]

Aim to the other side?

There really isn’t much there to bend.  The site is soldered onto the barrel which is soldered to the tube.  I’d be worried that the barrel might separate from the tube if you were to torque on it. 

There aren’t too many people who solder these things anymore, most have retired or died before they could.  If it really bothers you, give a call to Rick Wilnecker at Precision Pellet (airgunshop.net).  If he can’t fix it he will know who can.

[19Sheridan57]

  I have straightened dozens of those. BUT, it gives me a cold chill every time I do. So far, I have been successful with every one, but try this at your own risk.
  Wrap a little tape over the sight. Slide a pair of linesman pliers over the sight BLADE ONLY , from the top. Grip the pliers tightly, & slowly bend a little at a time.

 

[HPP-Mechanic]

This Blue Streak front sight is off just enough to annoy me, but I can see how easily the sight could snap off if I try & tweak it, or worse yet, break the barrel solder joint loose.

I just finished a solder-repair on a 1951 Benjamin Franklin 312 that was separated   all the way back to the rear sight.  The finish is forever changed & now will need to be painted. I never want to do a solder repair again...

[HPP-Mechanic]

Here is the Sheridan front sight. Reminds me of an Orca in captivity. I will call this Blue Streak "Shamoo".

[19Sheridan57]

  Worst one I have ever seen was bent at about a 45 degree angle !  I straightened it up.

[JPSAXNC]

To resolder and hurt nothing. Disassemble everything including the valve internals. Clean the joint with a small brush and acetone. Lightly flux the joint and wrap some small diameter copper wire tightly around the barrel tube and breech to hold it all together when the solder melts. Set the oven temp. to 500 degrees and place the gun in the oven, lay it on a piece of aluminum foil.  Let it get hot and occasionally touch a small piece of small diameter solder wire to the joint to see if the original solder is soft. If the solder is soft put some flux on a piece of small diameter copper wire and drag the wire the length of the joint. That will get the solder to flow, if it hasn't done it on it's own. Let cool off.

[HPP-Mechanic]

To resolder and hurt nothing. Disassemble everything including the valve internals. Clean the joint with a small brush and acetone. Lightly flux the joint and wrap some small diameter copper wire tightly around the barrel tube and breech to hold it all together when the solder melts. Set the oven temp. to 500 degrees and place the gun in the oven, lay it on a piece of aluminum foil.  Let it get hot and occasionally touch a small piece of small diameter solder wire to the joint to see if the original solder is soft. If the solder is soft put some flux on a piece of small diameter copper wire and drag the wire the length of the joint. That will get the solder to flow, if it hasn't done it on it's own. Let cool off.

No way mama is gonna let me put my airgun in her oven to lead-solder the barrel! I did get it soldered,; I used 2 skinny hose clamps at either end to hold the barrel in place , after i sanded & fluxed the joint. Its a solid repair, but required alot of clean-up and sanding to smooth everything out. But now I have bright, shiny brass where the repairs were made. The gun was a rescue, but I still dont want it to look freshly painted when Im done. I will post up a pic later.

[Frank in Fairfield]

Hold the barrel separately in wooden blocks in a vice so the barrel cannot move away from the pumping mechanism.
Of course the rest of the gun must be supported.
Then gently bend the sight..
Carefully.
If it was bent one way, it can be bent the other.

[cvasquez]

YEs, its a soft brass metal and can easily be bent back in place. Figure out how best to support the lower part -mainly the base of the front blade  and barrel while you just bend the top 3/4 of the blade. In a vise with some wood and cloth padding might do the trick.

[Air Head]

Here is the Sheridan front sight. Reminds me of an Orca in captivity. I will call this Blue Streak "Shamoo".

It does look like Shamoo, and it is in captivity.

[HPP-Mechanic]

I gave it a try & got it straight. I wrapped the barrel/tube right behind the sight & tightened a hose clamp around it. Some electrical tape and an adjustable wrench, and I was able to easily straighten it out. Thanks for the encouragement forum friends.

[19Sheridan57]

   I am glad you have it straight now.